Condenser



July 15, 1930. A, E 1,770,718

CONDENSER Filed July 5, 1929 '34 7 5 J 34 l t 2 Y I a 34 a1 a5 7 WITNESS INVENTOR 5 M9 I I AJZDDMEN a 8 1.@.M

ATTORNEY Patented July 15, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ULRICH A. TADDIKEN, OF PHIZEBELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR '10 WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC 1&: MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA CONDENSER Application filed July 5,

a condenser which shall be well adapted to m be constructed in large sizes and which shall embody features of construction especially applicable to condensers of the radial flow and single pass types.

It has for a further object to provide a 15 condenser which shall have a relatively high heat transfer coefiicient and which shall be capable of discharging the air and other noncondensable gases at a relatively low temperature and the condensed steam at a relatively high temperature;

It has for still another object to provide a condenser having a sectionalized tube nest so arranged as to renderthe entire tube surface highly effective for condensing purposes.

These and other. objects are efiected by my invention, as will' be a parent from the following description an claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawin forming a part of this application, in whic Fig. 1 is a lon itudinal view, in sectional elevation, of one orm of condenser arranged in accordance withmy invention; and,

Fig, 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, I show a condenser provided with a shell structure 10 having an inlet 11 for steam to be condensed and an outlet 12 for discharging the condensate created in the shell structure. Associated with the outlet 12 is a hotwell 13 arranged in a manner well understood in the art. Secured to the ends of the shell structure are end tube sheets 14 and 15, and con- 11 nected between the end tube sheets 14 and 15, is a nest of cooling or condensing tubes 16.

As shown particularly in Fig. 2, the tube nest 16 is so formed, with relation to the interior contour of the shell structure 10, that an intervening stream delivery space 17 is provided between the tube nest and the shell 1929. Serial ltd 376,018.

structure, the steam delivery space 17 freely communicating with the inlet 11. As shown, the steam delivery space surrounds the entire tube nest, the tube nest not only being spaced from the side walls of the shell structure but from the bottom wall as well It is obvious, that the tube nest may be so arranged, with respect to the shell structure, that the steam delivery space 17 does not entirely surround the tube nest but only a substantial portion thereof v Secured to the tube sheet 14 is an inlet water box 18 provided with an inlet 19, while secured to the-tube sheet 15 is a discharge water box 21 provided with .an outlet 22, the water boxes 18 and 21 being preferably so arranged that the cooling water passes through the tube nest 16- in a single direction, the preferred embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 being generally referred to as a single-pass type'of condenser.

In condensers of the larger sizes, the distances intervening between the end tube sheets 14 and 15 reaches such proportions that some intermediate supporting means is required for the tube nest. Accordingly, in accordance with the prior'art, I provide the required number of intermediate tube-supporting sheets and, in the present embodiment, I show byway of example, three intermediate supporting sheets 23, 24, and 25. The intermediate tube-su porting sheets 23, 24 and 25 are preferab y so formed that their outer contours are similar to the contour of the tube nest and they are spaced from the side walls or from vboth the side and bottom walls of the shell structure. The

intermediate tube-supporting sheets 23, 24 and 25 divide the tube nest into a lurality of sections 26, 27, 28 and 29 all of which are open and freely communicate with each other through the steam delivery space 17 and inlet Located within each of the tube nest sections is an air box 31 havin top, bottom, side and end walls and extending and fitting between adjacent tube sheets. Each air box 31 preferably forms a closed receptacle except for a urality of airinlets 32 and an outlet con uit 33. Each air box 31 is so .tral portion of the latter.

disposed in its tube nest section that the air inlets 32 are disposed interiorly of the tube nest so that the gaseous'media obtaining in the steam delivery space 17 may be said to be drawn radially inward from the periphery of the tube nest toward a point near the cen- Such a type of condenser is known as the radial flow type and is disclosed and claimed in U. S. Patent No. 1,142,784, issued June 8, 1915 to R. N. Ehrhart and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.

Condensers of the radial flow type possess extraordinary advantages in that the steam is admitted to the tube nest from around its entire or at least a substantial portion of its perimeter, thus greatly increasing the area of the admission space. Furthermore, the distance which the steam traverses across the tube nest from the periphery or inlet toward the air outlet is reduced to a minimum and hence resistance to flow is lessened and the pressure drop is reduced, thus conserving the kinetic energy of the incoming steam as much as possible. Furthermore, the condensate leaving the outlet 12 is in contact with the incoming steam which is present in the lower portion of the steam delivery space 17 and consequently the condensate leaves the condenser at the highest possible tem rature.

T e intermediate tube-supporting Sheets 23, 24 and 25 are preferably supported from the shell structure by means of suitable brackets 34 while the air boxes 31 are supported from the lower portion of the shell structure b suitable bosses 35. Provided in each of t 1e bosses 35 is a passage 36 communicating with the outlet conduits 33, and the passages 36 connect through suitable pipe connections 37 with separate evacuating applaratus such as, for example, air ejectors 38.

ach individual air ejector 38 is preferably provided with an inlet 39 for the admission of motive fluid controlled by a valve 41, the arrangement beng such that the capacity of each ejector may be individually regulated. All of the ejectors preferably discharge, as illustrated, through a common conduit 42.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved condenser will be apparent. Under normal conditions of operation, cooling water is admitted to the inlet 19 of the inlet water box 18, traverses the nest of coolin tubes 16 and leaves the condenser through t e discharge water box 21 and outlet 22. Steam is admitted to the inlet 11 and surrounds the tube nest 16 in the steam delivery space 17. As is evident, the cooling water in traversing the tube nest longitudinally, assumes (progressively increasing tem pzratures in a irection from the inlet water x 18 toward the outlet water box 21. Hence, the tube nest sections 26, 27, 28 and 29 assume progressively increasing temperatures and the section 26 may be referred to as a relatively cold section, and the section 29 as a relatively Warm section. Hence, each of the respective sections has a gradually reducing condensing capacity in the direction interior portion of the nest, the steam is condensed and falls to the bottom of the shell structure and is discharged. to the hotwell 13. The air and noncondensable gases enter the inlets 32 of the air boxes and are withdrawn by the ejectors 38. Inasmuch as the amount of steam entering the respective sec tions is, to some extent, dependent upon the action of the air ejectors,'the air ejector 38 associated with the relatively cold compartment 26 may be operated at greater capacity than the second or adjacent ejector located toward the warm end of the condenser and, the latter or second ejector may be operated at a still greater capacity than the third ejector and so on. In this way, each section 26, 27, 28 and 29 acts, in effect, as a separate con denser and the amount of steam drawn in to the several sections may be individually regulated by their associated ejectors in accordance with the temperatures of their tube sections. In this Way, the increasing temperature of the cooling water passing through the tube nest is compensated for and the entire tube surface is made highly effective.

While, in the foregoing embodiment, I show a form of condenser wherein the tube nestnis sectionalized and wherein only one tube nest section is associated with a single ejector, nevertheless it is to be understood that it is within the purview of my invention to have a lesser number of air ejectors than tube nest sections in which case each air ejector is independently connected to a plurality of tube nest sections. Furthermore, while my invention is primarily applicable to condensers of the single pass and radial flow types, nevertheless some of the features disclosed herein are equally applicable to condensers of other types. I

In conclusion, it will be apparent that I have devised a condenser of the radial flow type provided with a sectionalized tube nest and having improved evacuating apparatus associated therewith so as to render the entire tube nest highly effective for condensing purposes.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as areimposed by the prior art or as are specifically Water box associated with the other end of set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is z- 1. In a condenser, the combination of a shell having an inlet for steam to be con densed and an outlet for condensate, a nest of tubes extending longitudinally through the shell and so spaced, with respect to the side Walls of the shell, as to provide an intervening steam delivery space surrounding a substantial portion of the nest, tube sheets and water boxes secured to the ends of the shell and providing for the circulation of cooling media in a single direction through the nest, a tube sheet located intermediate of the ends of the nest and spaced from the side' walls of the shell structure, said tube sheet dividin the tube nest longitudinally, into a plura ity of sections treely communicating with each other through the surrounding steam delivery space, and independent means extending into the respective tube nest sections for evacuating the same.

2, In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a substantially cylindrical tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, said tube nest being spaced from the side walls of the shell structure so as to provide an intervening steam delivery space substantially surroiinding the tube nest, tube sheets located at each end of the tube nest, an inlet water box associated with one end of the tube nest and an outlet water box associated with the other end of the tube nest, said water boxes being so arranged as to provide for the passage of cooling waterthrough the tube nest in a single direction, a tube support sheet located intermediate the ends of the tube nest and dividing the latter, longitudinally, into a relatively cold section disposed adjacent to the inlet water box and a relatively warm,

' surrounding steam delivery space, separate air ofttake means located near the cylindrical axis of each of the tube nest sections and evacuating means connecting with the respective sections and arranged to draw more steam into the cold section than into the warm section.

3. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for steam to becondensed and an outlet for condensate. a tube nest extending longitudinally through the tube nest, said water boxes being so arranged as to provide for the passage of cooling water through the tube nest in a single.

direction, a tube support sheet located intermediatethe ends of the tube nest and dividing the latter, longitudinall into a relatively cold section disposed a jacent to the inlet water box and a relatively warm section disposed adjacent to the discharge Water box,

means for supporting the intermediate tube sheet from the shell structure and providing for free and open communication between the respective tube nest sections and the surrounding steam delivery space, separate air olftake means located within each of the aforesaid tube nest sections and arranged to withdraw air inwardly, in approximately radial directions, from the periphery of the tube nest, and evacuating means disposed exteriorly of the shell structure and connecting with the respective air ofitake means, said evacuating means being arranged to draw more steam into the cold section of the tube nest than into the warm section.

4. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for steam to be co densed and an outlet for condensate, a

tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, said tube nest being spaced from the side walls of the shell structure so as to provide an intervening steam delivery space surrounding a substantial portion, of the nest, a tube sheet located at 'eachend of the tube nest, an inlet Water box associated with one end ofthe tube nest and an outlet Water box associated with the other end of the tube nest, said water boxes being arranged to directthe flow of cooling water in a single direction through the tube nest, a tube supporting sheet located intermediate the en s of the tube nest and spaced from the side walls of the shell structure, said tube sheet dividing the shell structure into a plurality of sections all of which freely communicate with the surrounding steam delivery space, means for supporting the tube sheet from the shell structure, separate longitudinally-extending air ofli'takes fitting between adjacent tube sheets, and separate evacuating means connecting with the respective ofitakes.

5. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest extending longitudinall through the shell structure, said tube nest being spaced from the side walls of the shell structure so as to provide an intervening steam delivery s ace surroundin a substantial portion of t 1e nest, a tube sheet located at each end of the tube nest, an inlet water box associat ed with one end of the tube nest and an outlet Water box associated with the other end of the tube nest, said water boxes being arranged to direct the flow of cooling water in a single direction throu h the tube nest, a tube supporting sheet ocated intermediate of the ends of the tube nest and spaced from the side walls of the shell structure, said intermediate tube sheet dividing the shell structure into a plurality of sections freely communicating with the surrounding steam delivery space, means for supporting the intermediate tube sheet from the shell structure, air ofi'take boxes extendin between adjacent tube sheets, said air otf take boxes havin top, bottom, side and end walls and provi ed with inlet and outlet .openings, separate conduit means connecting with the outlet 0 enings of the respective air ofitake boxes, said conduit means extending through the lower portion of the shell structure, and independent evacuating apparatus connecting with the conduit means of the respective tube nest sections.

6. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate,

a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, said tube nest being spaced from the side walls of the shell structure so as to provide an intervening steam delivery space surrounding a substantial portion of the nest, a tube sheet located at each ,endof the tube nest, an inlet water box associated with one end of the tube nest and an outlet water box associated with the other end of the tube nest, said water boxes being arranged to direct the flow of coolin water in a s ngle direction through the tu nest, a tube supportin sheet located intermediate of the ends 0% the tube nest and spaced from the side walls of the shell structure, said tube sheet dividing the shell structure into a plurality of sections all of which freely communicate with the surrounding steam delivery space, means for supporting the intermediate tube sheet from the shell structure, longitudinally-extending air oiftake boxes located interiorly of each of the tube nest sections, means for supporting the air ofitake boxes from the shel structure, and evacuating means connecting with the air ofl'take boxes and providing for drawing more steam into the tube nest sections adjacent the inlet water box than into the tube nest sections disposed adjacent the outlet water box.

7-. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for steam to be condensed, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, said tube nest being spaced from the side walls of the shell structure so as to provide an intervening steam delivery 5 ace surrounding a substantial portion of the nest, tube sheets and water boxes associated with the ends of the tube nest, tube supportin sheets located intermediate of the ends 0 the tube nest and dividing the tube nest, longitudinally, into a plurality of sections, said intermediate tube supporting sheets being spaced from the side and bottom walls of the shell structure,

means for supporting the intermediate tube 1 supporting sheets from the shell structure, a hot well communicatin with the shell structure for receiving con ensate from a plurality of tube nest sections, and se arate and independent air ofi'take means or each of the tube nest sections.

8. In a condenser, the combinationof a,

longitudinally, into a plurality of sections,-

and separate air-oiftake means for the respective tube nest sections, each of said air oiitake means having an inlet located in the interior of the tube nest section and in spaced relation, radiall with the peri hery of the intermediate tu e supporting s eet.

9. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest provided with end tube sheets and extending longitudinally through the shell, an inlet water box associated with one end of the tube nest and an outlet Water box associated-with the other end of the tube nest, Said water boxes being arranged to provide for the circulation of cooling water in a single direction through the tube nest, a tube supporting sheet located intermediate of the ends of the tube nest and dividing the latter, longitudinally, into a relatively cool section disposed adjacent to the inlet water box and a relatively Warm section disposed adjacent the discharge vwater box, and evacuating means connectin with the respective tube nest sections, sai evacuating means having an inlet located in an interior rtion of each of the tube nest sections and in spaced relation, radially, with respect to the periphery of the intermediate tube supporting sheet and said evacuating means being arranged to draw more steam into the cold section of the tube nest than into the warm section.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of June, 1929.

ULRICH A. TADDIKEN. 

